Multi-Tasking Times Two

Life will definitely be a bit crazy when you bring your newborns home, especially in the beginning. Use these strategies to help you manage it all.

There's no doubt about it: Preparing for twins — and then taking care of them — isn't easy. It takes plenty of planning, organization, and work, but it's well worth the effort. Think of the perks, like your new celebrity status. You won't believe how many adoring fans you and your brood will attract as you stroll through the neighborhood.

And how about the tricky skills you'll quickly master: You get twice the practice swaddling, buckling car seats, and changing diapers, so you'll be a pro in no time. But the best part is that after six weeks or so, two tiny toothless grins will start lighting up your life on a regular basis, and that's nothing short of bliss — in stereo.

Ah, but getting to those first beautiful smiles can feel like running a marathon, so here are strategies to help you reach that milestone (without collapsing into a sweaty heap).

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

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What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.